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Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch The Throne

8/12/2011

2 Comments

 
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Album Review.
Likes: New Day, Welcome to the Jungle, Murder to Excellence, No Church in the Wild
Dislikes: That’s My Bitch
Overall: Some weak parts, but features intriguing lyrics & unique production


Ever since the release of Kanye West’s defining debut, “College Dropout,” on the Jay-z founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 2004, fans have insisted the pair record a collaborative album. After 7 years and multiple features on each other’s projects, they granted the audience’s request with “Watch the Throne.” Considering the style of the production and some of the pensive lyrics, the rappers were definitely looking to create a classic album.

“Throne’s” production is somewhat thematic and is the perfect mix of today’s and yesterday’s sound, blending futuristic synths and elements of electronica with traditional hip-hop rhythms and some classic 60’s & 70’s soul. Most of the album is lyrically adequate, but there are some feeble points. For example, “Lift Off” has a great hook and attractive production, but the verses are painfully short and barely noticeable. Another weakness is that there are one too many songs in which the rappers singly boast about their success and assets. Granted, boasting is a central tenet in hip-hop, but multiple tracks of just boasting can get redundant and tiring. Also, I’m personally over West’s womanizing lyrics that seem to now have a stronger recurring role on his projects. (ex. “…I said look you need to crawl ‘fore you ball, come and meet me in the bathroom stall and show me why you deserve to have it all…”)

Reminiscent of West’s “My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy,” the more meaningful lyrics address the societal turmoil of the black community and discuss the ugly and rewarding parts of fame, while taking time for personal, inward reflection. On the endearing and intriguing “New Day,” West and Jay-z speak to their unborn sons. Jay-z vows to be better parent than his absentee father, and West makes a mockery of what the media has found to be his missteps and lists what he finds to be valid mistakes. All in all, I predict that “Throne” will be well revered and that another collaborative record is in the future. Good album.

If I have any additional commentary on an album from a societal, cultural or fan perspective, I usually save it for a separate article, but since I don’t have too much to say, I’ll go ahead and include it here. Hip-hop and I have love-hate relationship. I see its value as a genre, but there are many things about the culture and the music that I do not agree with. As a woman and feminist, I will never find it appropriate to refer to a woman as a bitch. Most rappers proclaim that when they use the word “bitch,” it’s not in reference to ALL women, just those that are promiscuous or deceitful, but as usual, the rappers contradict themselves. On “That’s My Bitch,” Jay-z and Kanye are speaking of a respectable woman of substance that’s their companion. As a woman of color, I ask and I plea: when do I get to be referred to as your friend, girlfriend or wife and NOT your “bitch?” As a man of color, when will you give yourself and your male counterparts a title of something more exalting than a “nigga?” When? That is all. 

2 Comments
Mike J.
10/2/2011 05:22:05 pm

I think you probably missed the underlying theme of the album: it's a story of 2 men (jay and ye) who initially weigh their self-worth and value in material possessions and superficial means, but begin to feel that there is more to life than those types of things, so they go on an intrinsic journey to identify this "worth", and in the hard process of doing so realize their worth comes from them, not the things around them. THIS factor was their key to success which granted them a spot on the "Throne". They THEN try to teach the same lessons they learn to the african-american community so that we can gain the same success as them, however it doesn't really work out (as the last song depicts). So the superficiality is necessary in order to show the progression and growth of the two artists, or else the project would've been in vain.

OAN: Lift-Off was only put on that album because they KNEW it would be overhyped, however it didn't live up to the expectations. Even Bey didn't deliver as fully as most of her fans expected.

Oh b4 I go: I found this cool website that you'll probably like to use to get alot of the rapper's messages. its www.rapgenius.com

Reply
Mike J.
10/2/2011 05:26:35 pm

OOPS I forgot one more thing about the materialistic thing. The fact they mention SO many superficial themes the first few songs is also a play on words with the title of the album (which could have 2 connotations). 1) Watch the Throne, NOT the cars and clothes and money around it. Those aren't what give u respect, the throne is what gives respect. Watch it and learn from us (jay and ye) since we're on it talking to you. OR 2) Watch the throne, because you'll never get to BE on it if you (the A.A. community) continue to hurt one another and not grow mentally.

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